Faithfulness ~ in spite of . . . God is still on the throne.

Good Day. 

Dateline:  Nairobi, Kenya – Sixty-seven confirmed dead, another 62 still hospitalized, and 65 yet unaccounted for in the Westgate Mall, when 10-15 gunmen believed to be representing the Islamic terrorist group Al-Shabaab out of Somalia, stormed the upscale shopping center on Saturday.  "The gunmen told Muslims to stand up and leave. They were safe, and non-Muslims would be targeted."  The mall has Israeli ownership, and has (had) a number of Western brands such as Nike and Bose.¹  Why?  Kenya is a key U.S. partner in battling Islamist terrorism and has also contributed military forces to an African Union expedition to fight Al-Shabaab forces in Somalia.  It was in retribution for that mission that Al-Shabaab claimed it was staging the Westgate attack.²   The gunmen first allowed all Muslims to vacate the premises, choosing to target non-Muslims … did you get that? 

>>First of all, let me say, “Christian brothers and sisters in Nairobi, I am praying for you.  God is with you, despite this evil that has been done in your city and to your people.”  [a vast number of Kenyans—many from Nairobi—get these Morning Briefings]  So please, fellow Christians, around the world, join me in praying for the healing of hearts and lives following this horrific act.

Dateline:  Peshawar, Pakistan – “Attack on congregation leaving service in Peshawar is most deadly in history of Pakistan's Christian community”³  It appears that the Sunday morning attack at All Saints church left 85 people dead.  Why?  The Taliban wants Christians dead or out of Pakistan.  "It's not safe for Christians in this country," said Mano Rumalshah, the bishop emeritus of Peshawar, who was standing in the courtyard, comforting sobbing parishioners who clasped his white robes.

"Everyone is ignoring the growing danger to Christians in Muslim-majority countries. The European countries don't give a damn about us."⁴

>>Christians, we must be in prayer for persecuted believers around the world—especially those living in predominantly Muslim countries under sharia law.

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Should I go on?  Dateline: Syria … Dateline: Egypt … my goodness, Dateline: Washington, D.C. Navy Yard shooting!  There is rampant evil in our world today.  The devil is having a field day, is he not?   To say ‘it is troubling’ is a tremendous understatement. 

But, Friends … God is still on the throne.  He is yet faithful.

In the last week, I have been writing about faithfulness, particularly God’s faithfulness.⁵  Some might ask, ‘so what about in Nairobi?  Where was he?’  A fair question that we can only answer with perspective and a little time, lest insensitive—God was just as near there, where people were suffering and dying, as he was at the 9-11 site in New York City.  But evil is permitted in this world, in spite of God’s offer of goodness and righteousness and good and right living.  Evil men acted of free will, causing the unspeakable suffering of so many people.

And for the rest of us, evil in our world leaves us unsettled; knowledge that violence is on the increase makes us troubled, and the possibility that it could strike one of our own brings worry.  But, Friends … God is still on the throne.  He is yet faithful.  And God is worthy of our trust.

God’s faithfulness has always been . . . it did not start in his dealings with you and me!  No, long before you and I were born, God was faithful.  Think of his plan of redemption after Adam and Eve chose to sin.  Think of the prophecies spoken and recorded in the Old Testament scriptures about Jesus, the Messiah, and even Israel, for instance.  Jesus was the exact fulfillment of the five dozen-plus prophecies uttered some 700 years before he was born.  And Israel?  Take just one item—her becoming a nation again in 1948; it was nothing short of miraculous!  I mean, how could tiny Israel ever survive a war with Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon attacking?  ^“Those who war against you? shall be as nothing at all.

For I, the Lord your God,? hold your right hand;?it is I who say to you, “Fear not,? I am the one who helps you.”   Fear not, you worm Jacob,?    you men of Israel!?I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;? your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.⁶    Only God. 

In spite of war, cancer, terrorism, God is still on the throne.  Because he is faithful, we can trust him.

 Christine